DOWNTOWN DIALOGUE

Sometimes new things can be challenging. When you’ve been part of something, an institution maybe, for a long time or even your whole life and then developments happen it can cause a lot of different emotions. I really do believe that change isn’t a bad thing. When something is evolving, it shows it’s alive. If this something means a lot to you and has been a part of your life, that could be very exciting for you. I think it should. But I understand change isn’t always easy.

I’ll get to the point. What I’m talking about is the idea of a church being a community neighbor and opening its doors to people other than its members. I just had a conversation, and it surely was not the first and won't be the last, about all of this. A long-time member wondering why do we have to do this? Our members support this church and have since its existence. Are we not enough? To that I said bringing more people in is not a factor of something lacking within. Bringing new people in is part of what we are all about. It’s our call to be Godly people and lead a path the way Jesus wants and expects us to. Almost perfectly centered in downtown, we have immediate access to this adventure. I’m not an expert but I imagine Jesus as someone who would open his doors to anyone and everyone. While still loving and appreciating his closest allies, he would be willing to accept those who live beyond his doors. Shouldn’t we be doing the same?

I hear and understand the opinions of a change like this. However, overall, this is not a new idea. Larger cities have been working at this for more than a decade (check out this article.) I believe churches all over our community also now know their existence has to include their neighbors. I am not a member here at Trinity and that was known when I was hired. My bosses wanted someone with an "outside” point of view because those are the people they want here with our members. I have already since September grown to appreciate and care for Trinity and am forming relationships within. I am already proud to talk about what goes on here and how we can be a place for you, no matter what your circumstances are. While I am doing that, the focus is in no way going away from the beloved members that call Trinity home. We just want to show more people how great your home is and hope that here they can form, at the least, pieces of their home.

What if anything do you know about Trinity? Are you a member here? Have you ever been here? What do you think a downtown church should encompass? How can we be a better neighbor for you? Please, I want to hear it all.

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Sara Schaefer

Welcome to my blog. I am so happy I get to do this. Please know that I will be open, honest, and personal. I never wish to offend you or your opinions but rather use this forum as a way of expression. Blogs give people that freedom and I hope with each post, even when we disagree, we have mutual respect for each other as well as appreciation and gratefulness for this type of medium.